Murder Charges Filed After Body Found In Burning RV

GLEN BURNIE, MD — A Glen Burnie man has been charged with murder in the case of a man found dead inside his burning RV, Anne Arundel County Police say. Firefighters in Glen Burnie put out a fire that had destroyed an RV early Monday, and found a man's body inside, Anne Arundel County Police say. The brush fire was reported about 5:30 a.m. in the area of Sycamore Drive and Ritchie Highway South.

Fire crews found an RV completely engulfed in flames. Once the fire was out, firefighters located male human remains. Homicide detectives, fire marshals, and a forensic investigator from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner all responded to the scene.

On Wednesday, police said that the victim in the RV was identified as Dennis Lee Perry Sr., 57, who had been living in the recreational vehicle. The medical examiner ruled Perry’s cause of death as blunt force trauma with the manner being homicide.

Homicide detectives executed several search warrants Tuesday, including one in the 5700 block of Baltimore National Pike in Catonsville where a person of interest was located. Jason Butler Nichols, 35, from the 300 block of Columbus Road in Glen Burnie, was named as that person of interest by police.

Police have charged Nichols with first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree arson in Perry's death. Investigators say Perry's death was a targeted incident and not a random act of violence. Nichols is currently incarcerated at the Anne Arundel County Jennifer Road Detention Facility on a no-bond status.

Detectives ask anyone with information about Perry's death to call the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. To remain anonymous, contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.